Samuel James Verlinden, known professionally as Sam V, was born on October 1, 1997, in New Zealand and is a singer. He began his music career by posting videos on a video streaming platform in 2006, gaining significant traction with over two million hits and rising to the number 20 Most Subscribed Musician in New Zealand. His breakthrough moment came when ANZ Bank selected his track "I Just Wanna Love U" for their campaign "Fortune Favours the Brave," which featured a surprise music video choreographed by Parris Goebel and the ReQuest dance crew. This collaboration quickly gained a following and propelled Sam V into the spotlight. He also performed as a debut artist at the annual Parachute Music Festival with Hannah Elley and Descend in 2011. In 2013, he released his first single "I Want Ya," which garnered over a million views and had regular plays on NZ radio stations.